Dear Brothers and Lasallians…
As we begin this week where we celebrate Saints Patrick and Joseph, we pause together to reflect on the current reality of our newly uprooted lives.
Our Eatontown Calendars are now filled with strokes of Bic Wite-Outs. Every aspect of life has become cancelled, postponed, or it is happening virtually. The latter means extra work for the teaching Lasallians and Brothers among us. Yet, even for the teachers among us who will have busy days, we are all reminded to refrain from non-essential travel, activities, etc. Surely, we all face amounts of unscheduled times that we have never known.
This could be a frightening reality for us but it is also a moment when we can accomplish so many things that maybe we have not been attentive to. Allow us today to suggest some and to welcome your ideas which we can include in a message next week…
Interior Life…
We often wish that our spiritual life, our prayer life were more dynamic. First and foremost, there is a lot of prayer needed with the current COVID 19 situation. We can pray for those who have died and their families. We can pray for those infected and for those who will be infected. We can pray for all those who continue to be of service to humanity during this crisis, from the doctors and nurses on the very front lines to the supermarket check-out clerks who run daily risks, too.
So, maybe we can arrange for longer periods of personal prayer through the rest of Lent. Maybe we want to have a novena in our communities for the safety of all people impacted by the virus. (Consider reflecting on the poem, “Pandemic”)
Service…
Let us start at home. What needs within our community can we respond to? Can you look out for the other members each day to make sure each is doing well? Can you volunteer to sanitize some part of the community that would benefit from such extra cleaning?
Looking beyond home, are there activities beyond the community that can be done? Are there elderly neighbors who need help with shopping?
Decluttering…
Maybe these next weeks would be a good time to get not only our spiritual lives in order but also our worldly belongings. If we have not used it in years, maybe it is time to throw it out, or donate it. Maybe.
Please follow the advice of your local medical personnel, diocese and government. We will intend to be in touch each week through this crisis, so we welcome any thoughts, recommendations you wish to have shared with the entire District.
God bless everyone at this time in our one world.
Peace on earth,
Richard Galvin Lawrence Goyette Dennis Lee